On the feast of Pentecost, 11 May 2008, Bishop George Phimphisan, President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand announced, “The Year of the Word and the Year of St. Paul” to be officially celebrated at the Eucharistic Celebration on 29 June 2008 at the Assumption Cathedral on the occasion of the Feast of Sts. Peter and Paul and, on the 3rd Anniversary of Pope Benedict XVI.
The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand announced the year 2007-2010 as the “Years Dedicated to the Word” for the Catholic faithful to read, meditate and pray the Word and strengthen their spirituality and mission. In the first year the Thai faithful gained more awareness more attention to the Word of God.
Moving into the second year it is right time that His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI make a special commemoration of the anniversary of 2000 years of St. Paul’s birth from 28 June 2008 to 29 June 2009. The Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Thailand sees it proper making it the Year of the Word of God and St. Paul, a joint celebration. In order to make the Year of the Word and the Year of St. Paul fruitful the Catholic Bishops’ Conference proposes the following guidelines:
- To set up an ad hoc committee to implement “Year of the Word and Year of St. Paul in each diocese, religious orders, schools, seminaries and various institutions
- To organize the Eucharistic Celebration in honor of St. Paul and pray together to spread the Word throughout the world.
- To organize in each diocese the official “Opening/Closing” ceremony of the Year of St. Paul and the main activities within the year such as the “Bible Congress” and join activities with our Protestant brothers and sisters.
- To revitalize the missionary spirit among Christians at all levels, especially among priests, religious, seminarians, catechists and lay leaders.
- To organize workshops and/or study groups to learn about the symbols, mission, journey and teachings as in St. Paul’s letters. Through the workshops and study groups a concrete and practical agenda should not be overlooked.
- To make a campaign on what St. Paul has been the champion, such as doing for the poor (ref. 1 Cor. 16:1), by inviting the faithful to be generous with their donations to the missionary works and to the poor in communities
- To participate in creating various media for information and study on St. Paul’s teaching, and provide for service the already available media.
- To create Teaching Mobile Teams to support various dioceses and educational institutions to make the Year of St. Paul meaningful following the intention of the Universal Church
- To organize pilgrimages to the tomb of St. Paul and various Churches named after him both at the local and national level as the opportunity may permit.
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